Libraries Within the Library: The Origins of the British Library's Printed Collections

Libraries Within the Library: The Origins of the British Library's Printed Collections is a new book that that helps to answer one of the most frequently asked questions at the British Library - 'How did the British Library acquire its books?'

Dispersed along the shelves of the British Library today are many volumes that once stood side by side in private libraries. The contributors to Libraries Within the Library explore some of the most important printed collections which were brought together to form the British Museum Library in 1753, casting new light on the individuals whose personal interests and taste they reflect.

Ranging from the library of Henry VIII to Sir Joseph Banks, and from Sir Hans Sloane to George III, this collection of essays also acts as a handbook to provenance within the British Library collections, providing guidance on the interpretation of marks of ownership, stamps, shelfmarks and other forms of evidence to be found in particular copies. Drawing on important new research, it will appeal to anyone interested in the history of collecting and collections